12 May 2018, Bilbao
LEINSTER 15 RACING 92 12
Gibson-Park came on with 19 mins remaining for starting scrum-half Luke McGrath as the Blues lifted the trophy for the first time in six years.
"Tense. Very, very tense. That's what I can remember. It wasn't pretty, by any means. I was sitting on the bench and at times you could hear a pin drop. After I got on, Isa (Nacewa) kicked a few good penalties and that was that.
"I was nervous as it was my first final. And sometimes coming off the bench, it feels like a different role altogether. It was something I was doing a lot at that time, but it's tricky when it's a game of that magnitude.
"My mentality has come on a good bit since then. I just hadn't played in that many big games. I'd played five minutes off the bench in a Super Rugby final and there was obviously the semi-final win against Clermont the year before.
READ MORE: Leinster's Andrew Porter says it is winning the Champions Cup that really counts after URC failure
"But aside from that I hadn't really been a starter in any big games, really, so I didn't have that exposure. I wasn't a young fella, I was 26, but it was pretty nervy.
"Only experience can get you there. But at the same time, some of these young guys these days are pretty phenomenal, they just take it and run with it.
"Me as a person as well, I was always quite a shy guy, which seems strange for a scrum-half but that's how it was. I probably take inspiration from a lot of these young guys now, the way they prepare and walk towards that big pressure.
"There's things like mindfulness and just taking your mind away completely, it's pretty powerful stuff and is helpful.
"So there's a lot of good resources, Gary Keegan has helped a lot and I've learned so much from what other guys do."
11 May 2019, Newcastle
SARACENS 20 LEINSTER 10
Gibson-Park missed out on the disappointing defeat entirely because only two foreign players were allowed in matchday squads in the tournament at the time. James Lowe and Scott Fardy got the nod.
"I'd had a hamstring issue, but I was back. But it was at the stage where it was between myself, James and Fards, only two of us could play. There was a lot of that happening around that stage.
"Man, it was frustrating. I remember just being frustrated. Throughout the year it wasn't too bad because we were pretty much two on, one off and so we could rest and get ready for the next time.
"But when it comes to the big games obviously the calls get tougher for management and a few of those conversations were pretty tough, as you can imagine. It's not because of your form but because of a rule, really.
"A few months later I became eligible to play for Ireland."
28 May 2022, Marseille
LA ROCHELLE 24 LEINSTER 21
Gibson-Park made his first start in a final but Leinster were undone in the closing moments when La Rochelle's replacement scrum-half Artur Retiere scored a vital try.
"It was pretty awesome, getting a crack in a final. With it being away in France, we knew it was going to be pretty tough and that you had to be on it, mentally.
"As I said, my mentality is a lot better now in terms of dealing with pressure. So I was pretty excited, for sure, but also nervous because it's finals rugby. It's win or die.
"It went down to the wire and that probably makes it more painful, to be in that game and leading for large parts of it. It was tough to take, definitely the most sombre dressing-room I've been in.
"It certainly carried over to our Bulls performance in the URC semi-final. We obviously got the job done in the quarter-final against Glasgow but it was still hanging around and it affected us against the Bulls, although they were brilliant on the day.
"So it sticks with you and people talk about it all the time and it is good motivational fuel.
"La Rochelle scored three tries to our none so it shows you've got to take your chances when they come. There were times when we probably could have been braver but it seemed the right thing to do was to take the points at the time.
"You take the points or go to the corner and it's probably one of the toughest decisions a captain will make. It's not often I'm part of that discussion!
"Unfortunately we didn't get it done - but now we've given ourselves another crack at getting it done.
"La Rochelle are obviously flying at the minute and it should be a hell of a game. I'm looking forward to it, especially with it being in the Aviva.
"Hopefully all the Leinster fans were able to get tickets. You'd hope to see them out in force"
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